Today’s cars are essentially computers on four wheels. Cars are also moving in this direction, just as computers get more powerful by adding paid apps or free operating system updates. One automaker charges a monthly charge to unlock and lock your car with a key fob. You can read more about that below. While optional extras have been around since the dawning of automobile sales, subscription-based services are relatively recent. The most popular GPS apps are still available for free. These are five Google Maps and Apple Maps tips and tricks that you will use every day. Your car may be older. You don’t need to sacrifice all the bells, whistles and features. Tap or click for high-tech upgrades you can make on an older model.If you’re in the market for a new car, you must do homework on subscription costs before signing a purchase contract.MercedesAutomakers want to charge us for more performance or even the most basic features. Mercedes Benz charges $1,200 per year for electric car owners to drive a little faster. “Acceleration Increase,” a costly software upgrade, gets you to zero to 60 mph in a second. It’s available on the Mercedes-EQ line EVs. German buyers pay $576 per annum for rear-wheel steering on the Mercedes-EQS. This feature helps in tight corners and parking by reducing the car’s turning radius. This feature is standard on EQS vehicles sold in the US, but it could be a sign that more are coming. Keep safe: In the past six months, more than 5 million cars were recalled.
A Mercedes-Benz AMG Mercedes-Benz car was seen at the Mercedes Benz stand during the 39th Thailand International Motor Expo (Nonthaburi).
AudiAudi’s “functions On Demand” system allows drivers to purchase subscriptions to new features such as smartphone functionality, parking assistance, and dynamic outside lighting. You can purchase additional functions by the month or the year for the A4, A5, and A6 models, as well as the Q5, Q7, and Q8 models. You can choose what you wish. For example, navigation costs $849 per annum. The dynamic lighting package costs $260 per annum. They are currently being introduced in Europe and I wouldn’t mind seeing them arrive in the U.S. Audi’s Connect Prime, Connect Plus, and Connect Prime are currently being developed in Europe. I wouldn’t be surprised to see them reach the U.S. in the near future. A High Beam Assistant upgrade is available that automatically brightens and dims your headlights for $8 per month. Apple CarPlay was previously offered to buyers at a cost of $80 per annum. After receiving a lot of negative feedback, they scrapped the plan. In the U.S. BMW ConnectedDrive upgrades offers premium features via software uploads. A dash cam function can be purchased for $19 per monthly or $430 over the lifetime of the vehicle.
Z4 Roadster compact convertible sportscar on display at Brussels Expo, January 9, 2020 in Brussels, Belgium. The BMW Z4 (G29 Z4) comes with a soft-top convertible top. The car features a large digital dashboard with touch screen at the centre console and a large touch screen in the middle.
CadillacCadillac offers a hands-free driving system for the highway called Super Cruise for $25 per month. This allows you to drive hands-free on over 200,000 miles of roads in the U.S. and Canada. The Super Cruise is offered as a free trial, but you will have to pay if you decide to keep the vehicle. The following models offer Super Cruise: 2018-2021 CT6, 2023 CT4, 2021-2023 CT5, 2021-2023 Escalade and 2023 Connecticut5, 2022-2023 Escalade and 2023 Lyriq.Chevrolet. A three-year subscription to GMGM’s OnStar and Connected Service Premium Plan services is mandatory on all new Buick, Cadillac and GMC models. It costs $1,500. The subscription includes three years of automatic crash assistance, roadside assistance and turn-by-turn navigation. You can also activate many functions via the Porsche Connect app. Upgrades are available for the 911, 718, Taycan and Panamera, Macan and Cayenne. Tesla Tesla’s “Full Self-Driving” beta mod, or FSD, was previously only available to drivers who had a passing score as determined by their car’s driver monitoring system. The feature is now available to all drivers, or anyone who is willing to pay. FSD can be requested from your driver’s screen, or the app. However, the price might make you pause: FSD is $15,000 when you buy a new Tesla. If you have Basic Autopilot, you can pay $99 to add FSD capabilities. It will cost you $199 per month.
The Tesla Model S dual-motor all electric sedan interior will be on display at Brussels Expo on Monday, January 9, 2020 in Brussels, Belgium.
Tesla’s FSD has put the federal government in its sights. The U.S. Department of Justice launched a criminal investigation into Tesla’s false claims about self-driving technology. To read my full take, tap or click here.ToyotaRemote start allows you to set the temperature in your car’s interior before you even enter it. You’ll be surprised if you haven’t already enjoyed remote start in your Toyota 2018 or later. To continue using your key fob to turn the car on, you will need to subscribe to Toyota Remote Connect. The service is available through an app on your smartphone. Other features include vehicle status alerts, limiting guest driver performance, last parked location, and the possibility to lock or unlock your doors remotely from your phone. Remote Connect costs $8 per monthly or $80 per annum. Bottom line: When buying a car, ask about monthly or annual subscription fees. These fees could end up costing you more than you planned. Keep your tech-knowledge up! My popular podcast is “Kim Komando Today”. It’s a solid 30-minute-long podcast that covers tech news, tips and calls from people all over the country with tech questions. It can be found wherever you get your podcasts. Click the link below to view a recent episode. PODCAST PICK – Scary IRS scam, Alexa storytelling and 5 AirTag tricks. Are you struggling with Christmas stress? The government is here for you. The government is here to help. Search for “Komando” and my last name. Get more tech knowledge on The Kim Komando show, which is broadcast on 425+ radio stations. It’s also available as a podcast. Register for Kim’s 5-minute morning roundup to get the latest tech news and security breaches. Need help? Drop your question for Kim here.Copyright 2023, WestStar Multimedia Entertainment. All rights reserved. You are supporting my research by clicking on the shopping links. Amazon Associates allows me to earn a small commission on qualifying purchases. I only recommend products that I believe in.